Cross bow



G. M. STEVENS 1 2,554,966

May 29, 1951 CROSS BOW Filed July 12, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 29, 1951 G. M. STEVENS CROSS BOW Filed July 12, 1945 M y 1951 G; M. STEVENS 2,554,966

CROSS BOW Filed July 12, 1945 I 3 Sheets-Sheet s 1 TT J j W /////////////////////////fl/////flfl//////////////77 I INVENTOR Patented May 29, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

The invention has for an object the dynamic release of the bow string and use of a tapered, light arrow, and differs from existing cross bows mainly in that the string passes above the arrow 'ormissile rather than under as is usual (Patent No. 1,985,079), and further that instead ofthe strings contacting the arrow in the rear when fired as is usual, the contact in my invention preferably is forward of the center of said missile or approximately at the center of gravity.

An advantage of this arrangement is that the string does not have to be retracted as far to the rear as would be necessary in existing cross bows (other parts considered in relation). A further advantage is that with a powerful bow the arrow may in my arrangement have considerably less spine, and even be tapered toward the rear to reduce friction and weight, as the lighter the arrow can be made the greater will its muzzle velocity be with any given bow, said velocity being an important factor in accuracy.

Other improvements will be brought out in the specification and drawing, such as a means for preventing the missile from sliding forward in the bore before'firing and the method ofreleasing the string without necessitating return of the retractor block to forward position, as in existing models, where said block is in interference with free action of the bow string on discharge and might cause damage.

Also is shown how I propose to slope the bore upward from breech to muzzle, thereby effecting a much improved appearance and giving the discharged missile a greater angle of flight without necessitating abnormal and clumsy sights.

In the accompanying drawings I show how I propose to place risers in the bow string slot and a recessed notch for the retractor block and illustrate use of a forwardly notched missile to obtain the above mentioned advantages.

Figure 1 shows the parts of a crossbow including my invention with parts in normal position.

Figure 2 shows said parts with the bow partly bent by running the retractor block toward the rear.

Figure 3 shows the bow string completely drawn with the retractor block caught in the detent notch.

Figure '4 is a cutaway view showing how the string is held by the rear of the retractor block and also shows the string in position in the arrow notch.

Figure 5 shows the rear of the retractor block lowered by the trigger into the recess so that 2 the string is free to pass over the top of the block.

Figure 6 shows the string riding on the top edge of the forward risers at the end of string travel and how the arrow is free to continue on out of the bore. v

Fig. 7 is a vertical section through the barrel, front risers, and quarrel, as seen when looking toward the muzzle in Fig. 6, and shows how the risers are spaced apart laterally of the groove holding the string clear of the missiles path; also how the bow-mount is strengthened by side plates bonded to the stock.

Fig. 8 is a vertical section through the magazine, rear risers, and missile guideway with the retractor in the drawn position, showing how the string is held by the rear end of runners spaced apart laterally of the groove, looking forward at the nocking point in Fig. 4.

Fig. 9 is a vertical section through the nooking point as seen when looking toward the muzzle, showing the rear risers spaced apart laterally of the missile guideway and underneath the string, whereby the string is prevented from following the retractor nooks when lowered as shown: also how the particular type of missile shown will prevent the string from lowering into the detent recess. 1

Fig. 10 is a longitudinal section through the magazine as viewed from above, showing a quarrel in position with nook up, and how a portion of the magazine walls adjacent the greatest width of the quarrel shaft will prevent rotation, whereby the nook is retained in the correct position as quarrels drop into the missile guideway.

The gun is loaded by placing a plurality of arrows or quarrels l in magazine 8 with notch 9 up; the retractor block which also acts as forearm grip I0 is run all the way forward (Fig. 1)

where bow string ll drops behind it; the block I0 is then pulled back taking the string with it (Fig. 2) causing bow [2 to bend; this is continued until string ll runs over the point of quarrel l and into quarrel notch 9 and until the front of block runners I3 drops into detent recess l4 when the force of how string H on the rear end of the block runners securely locks the bow cocked.

The cross bow is now ready to fire which is done with the stock held exactly as in firing a rifle; pressure on trigger 4 forces the rear end of block Ill down, said block front end pivoting against the forward end of detent notch 14. As

string H is held up by rear risers l5 and continued pressure on the trigger will be seen to free bow string H. Since string H is in quarrel notch 9, quarrel I will travel with bow string H until at the forward end of string slot it the string rides up on forward risers l7 and the quarrel is free to continue out of the muzzle.

To give to the quarrel a greater angle of flight it will be seen from Figures 1, 2, and 3 that I propose to slope the bore upwards toward the muzzle.

A side plate I8 is bonded to each side of the stock adjacent the bow mounting and serves to strengthen the bow mounting.

Having described my invention in cross bows particularly repeating cross bows such as a target or hunting version of Patent No. 1,985,079, what I claim is:

1. In a crossbow wherein the string is drawn by a retractor slidably mounted on the stock, a firing mechanism comprising runners on the said retractor, the rear of saidrunners engageable with the said string, means on the stock for'guiding said runners, a detent recess in said stock adjacent the breech and rearwardly of the guide means to receive the said runners, the forward end of said runners pivotally engaging the said detent recess when said retractor is in the drawn position, a trigger lever movably mounted on the stock, an extension on the said lever engageable with the said retractor when said retractor is in the drawn position, said extension being movable to lower the said runners into the detent recess out of the string path, and means for preventing the string from following the said runners into the detent recess, said prevention means comprising a projection on the stock immediate- 1y adjacent the rear of the said runners when the retractor is in the drawn position.

2. In a crossbow wherein the string mid-section operates in a longitudinal slot in the stock and is drawn by a retractor slidably mounted on the stock: a locking mechanism including, guide members secured to the said retractor, said guide members operative in the said string slot, the

rear of the said guide members engageable with' the string for drawing the bow, a recess in the said stock below and communicating with the said string slot to receive the said guide members when in the retracted position, said recess being adjacent the breech, said recess forming detent shoulders on the said stock, the forward ends of the said guide members pivotally engaging the said detent shoulders when the said retractor is in the retracted position whereby the said guide members are releasably wedged with their forward ends in engagement with the said detent shoulders and their rear ends against the top surface of the said string slot under pressure from the strin when in the drawn position whereby the bow is held drawn, and a trigger lever movably mounted on the stock, a projection on the said lever, said projection engageable with the said retractor for lowering the rear of the said guide members into the said recess out of the string path, and a member on the stock below the stringmid-section when in the drawn position, said member preventing the string from following the rear ends of the said guide members into the said recess whereby the string is released.

3. In a crossbow having a longitudinal recess above and communicating with the missile guideway and adapted to receive a plurality of side nocked arrows and of a length and breadth substantially coextensive with the said arrows whereby the lowermost arrow is positioned longitudinally for firing, an arrow, said arrow comprising a quarrel having a square cross section at the shafts greatest breadth, said cross section having a diagonal dimension greater than the corresponding width of the said recess whereby the said quarrel is prevented from rotation and retains its nocked side horizontal for firing when so placed in the said recess.

l. The invention defined in claim 1, in combination with a quarrel having a nook in its top surface for receiving the .string, said prevention means further comprising that portion of the said quarrel lying directly under the string at the moment of firing.

GEORGE M. STEVENS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 272,413 Eger Feb. 20, 1833 1,133,189 Shannon Mar. 23, 1915 1,319,392 Hearn Oct. 21, 1919 1,396,073 St. Pierre Nov. 8, 1921 1,985,079 Gonklin Dec. 18, 1934 2,288,562 Birkhofer et a1. June 30, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 61,885 Germany Apr. 8, 1892 177,627 Switzerland Aug. 16, 1935 329,491 France May 3, 1903 379,935 Germany Aug. 31, 1923 778,304 France Dec. 22, 1934 

